2017 2018 Full Review of Every SAT Test Date

2017 2018 Full Review of Every SAT Test Date SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Deciding when to take the SAT can be stressful because the best test dates aren't the same for everyone. Levels of preparation, goal scores, and other academic conflicts should all be considered in devising the most logical testing schedule for each student. The following is a full description of the pros and cons of each SAT test date in the 2017-2018 school year for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You can use this guide to come up with a game plan that works for you! 2017 Test Dates These fall dates are usually best for juniors taking the test for the first time or seniors trying to improve those last few points to reach their goal. August 26, 2017 Sophomores This is probably too early for incoming sophomores to start taking the SAT. You most likely won't have learned all of the concepts that are being tested. Additionally, you probably won't know what your college goals are yet. It's better to hold off until you have a clearer idea of what colleges you are aiming for and thus what scores you are targeting. However, this is a great time to start preparing for the test. Junior This is a good first test date for juniors. You will know pretty much all the concepts that are tested and you will have time to prep over the summer. Plus, you'll have plenty of potential dates to retake the test later if you want to improve your score. Seniors If you're hoping to retake the test one last time before application season gets in full swing during your senior fall, this is a solid test date choice. You will also be able to devote time in the summer to studying so you can really improve your scores.This is also a good choice if you haven't taken the test at all because then you will have time to study and retake in November or even December if you need to. October 7, 2017 Sophomores Sophomore fall is too early for most students to begin taking the SAT because you may not have learned all the concepts that are tested.You can feel free to begin preparing at this point by doing practice questions or getting review books, but you should hold off on taking the test for realuntil you know exactly what you’re dealing with and what your score goals are.Most sophomores haven’t yet begun their college search, and knowing where you plan on applying is important in nailing down a target score. Juniors This is a good date for juniors to take the SAT for the first time. You will have learned pretty much all the concepts that are tested. Plus, You'llhave plenty of time after you get your scores back to study for test dates later this year if you’re still unsatisfied with your performance. Seniors If you want one last shot at the SAT after preparing over the summer, this is a good date to take it if you can't make the August 26 date.It’s before you’re too stressed out about college applications, and if you’re applying early decision you’ll still have plenty of time to send colleges updated score reports. QAS is offered on this test date! QAS is short for Question-and-Answer Service, which is a completeguide to your scores that will help you review them in more detail. It can be very useful in preparing for future retakes because you'll be able to see all the original questions, their difficulty levels, their types, and which you answered correctly and incorrectly. This can tell you a lot about the nature of your mistakes and how you might be able to avoid them going forward. QAS is offered for the October, MARCH, and May test dates. For the other dates, you'll be able to order the SAS, or Student Answer Service, which is a less comprehensive version of the QAS. PSAT Test Date: October , 2017 It's important to keep this date in mind if you're a sophomore or junior and plan to take the PSAT in preparation for the real test. You might shift your test-taking schedule forward or backward to accommodate the PSAT if you're worried about getting testing fatigue. Spending too many weekend mornings filling in little circles in unfamiliar classrooms could make anyone go crazy. November 4, 2017 Sophomores I’d say this is too soon to take the test as a sophomore unless you’re extremely well-prepared.It’s tough to know what your score goals are at this point because you probably haven’t started seriously looking at colleges.If you’re concerned about the SAT already, just take a practice test or the PSAT to get a better idea of what you’re expected to know and how much you need to prepare before you take it for the first time (ideally junior fall). Juniors This is another solid date for juniors to take the test for the first time.If you miss the October date, it’s a pretty good option unless you're taking the PSAT in late October and are worried about getting overwhelmed with too much standardized testing at once. If you take the SAT in November, you’ll still have a pretty solid buffer between getting your scores back and the test dates in spring 2018. Seniors This is the latest date for seniors who are applying to college early decision to take the SAT.Most schools still allow scores from the November test date to be submitted along with early decision applications even though the deadline has technically passed, but check the policies at your chosen colleges before signing up for this test date.If you’re applying regular decision this is a decent test date for you, although you might be busy preparing other components of your application.In general, I’d aim for August or October instead. December 2, 2017 Sophomores This is, again, a bit early, but there’s nothing wrong with taking the SAT at this time if you feel confident in your abilities.Don't stress yourself out too much about the SAT yet, though.If you’re curious about where you stand score-wise, I’d suggest just taking a timed practice test so you can see what you need to work on before you attempt the real test for the first time. Juniors This might be a tough time to take the SAT if you have big mid-year tests coming up or are distracted by the holidays.Still, if you didn’t get a chance to take it earlier in the fall, this could be a decent option.It’s well before the test dates in late spring and summer, so you’ll have time to look at your scores and study constructively before a potential retake in May, June, or August. Seniors For some schools, this is the last date that you can take the SAT and still submit your scores with a regular decision application.If you took the SAT in October as a senior and still are not happy with your scores, this might be your last chance to retake.Don’t focus on improving slightly on the SAT over completing the rest of your application, but if you wantone last chance this date is your best bet. Make the most wonderful time of the year even more so by taking the SAT! Can you say comfort and joy 2018 Test Dates Spring and summer dates will be too late for most seniors, but they are ideal for juniors and ambitious sophomores. March 10, 2018 Sophomores This is the earliest I would suggest taking the SAT as a sophomore. Some concepts that come up on the SAT are typically taught sophomore year.It’s best to wait until you’re more than halfway through the year so you’ll know what you’re doing on most of the questions even if you haven’t prepared much.If you take the test on this date your sophomore year, you’ll have a solid five months to review your scores and study for upcoming junior year test dates. Juniors This is actually a pretty good time to take the test as a junior because it won't conflict with most mid-year tests and finals.You’ll also have enough time to review your scores from fall test dates and make meaningful progress.You will get back your scores far in advance of senior year, and you can even retake the SAT in May, June, or even August if you’re hoping to finish up standardized testing this year. Seniors It’s too late by this point for seniors who applied to college this year to take the SAT.Make sure you get in your last chances earlier in the year if you’re still not satisfied with your scores. QAS is offered on this test date! May 5, 2018 Sophomores If you want to get started early and feel you are up to speed on all of the topics covered by the SAT, this could be a good date for you to take the test for the first time.You’ll get back your results in June and be able to use them to prepare for your first retake in August or in junior fall.At this rate, you could finish with standardized tests before you even start filling out college applications. Juniors This is a good time to take the SAT as a junior because it will probably happen before your finals, and you’ll get your scores back right at the beginning of the summer.You’ll have the whole summer to review your results and continue studying if necessary.The only issue with this date is that it might conflict with AP tests.If you’re in AP classes and are worried that you’ll be overwhelmed, I’d suggest taking the SAT in March, June, or August instead.Ideally, this will be your second time taking the SAT after your first attempt junior fall. QAS is offered on this test date! June 2, 2018 Sophomores Like the May test date, this might be a reasonable option for sophomores who feel prepared and are hoping to use this as a jumping off point for a retake junior fall.The main issue is that as a sophomore you’re more likely to take fewer AP classes and more regular classes that have finals that conflict with this test date.If you plan on taking the test sophomore spring, I’d suggest May over June. If both dates conflict, you could also do the August date. Juniors This is another reasonable testing option for juniors, especially those who feel confident about the test and have already prepared extensively.Sometimes, this can be better than the May test date because it doesn’t conflict with AP tests.However, it may conflict with regular in-class finals. You could also do the August test date if both dates conflict. August 25, 2018 Advice for this date is similar to advice for the 2017 August date: if you're a sophomore, this is too early. But this is a great choice for a junior taking the test for the first time or a senior who is taking the again before application season. After the test, you can get back to sitting around bonfires with your friends and being mad when someone else steals the seat right next to your crush so you can't wallow in one-sided sexual tension for hours (high school was a tough time for me). When Should You Take the SAT? There are seven SAT test dates offered over the course of the 2016-2017 school year, so you have lots of choices, particularly if you're a sophomore or junior. If you plan on taking the SAT as a sophomore, you should probably wait until the second half of the year. The top three dates for sophomores are May 2017, June 2017, and March 2017 in that order. As a junior, you could choose to take the test at any time during the year. You'll have to make an informed decision based on how prepared you are. The best strategy for most people is to take the SAT in August, October, or November, study from the results, and go for a retake in either May, June, or the following August. You might fit in a third test date in the winter, but only if you feel that you have the potential to improve substantially from your fall scores. If you'll be a senior and want to take the test one last time, your best bet is the August test date followed by the October date, which come before the hectic application season. November is also a possibility. I'd try to avoid taking the test as late as December, but if one of this datesis the only one that works for you and your schools will accept scores from tests taken that late in the year, then those are acceptable last-resort options. It's a great idea to plan out your testing schedule in advance so you don't forget to sign up for an important date. Consider the advice in this article and your college plans to come up with the best way to structure your standardized testing over the course of the upcoming school year! What's Next? Still not sure whether you should take the SAT or the ACT? Read our guide to choosing the best test based on your strengths and weaknesses as a student. Setting practical goals is a huge part of the process of standardized testing. Learn how to calculate a target score for the SAT based on where you plan on applying to college. If you're a junior or senior, you may be trying to decide whether or not to retake the SAT. Follow this three step process to figure out the best course of action. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Getting Ready for the Geography Bee

Getting Ready for the Geography Bee The Geography Bee, more properly known as the National Geographic Bee, begins at the local level and winners work their way to the final competition in Washington D.C. The Geography Bee begins in schools with students from fourth through eighth grade across the United States in December and January. Each school Geography Bee champion takes a written test upon winning the Bee in their school. One hundred school winners from each state proceed to the State Level Finals in April, based on their scores on a written test scored by the National Geographic Society. The Geography Bee winner in each state and territory proceeds to the National Geographic Bee in Washington D.C. for a two-day competition in May. On the first day, the 55 state and territory (District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Pacific Territories, and the overseas U.S. Department of Defense schools) winners are narrowed to a field of ten finalists. The ten finalists compete on day two and the winner is announced and wins a college scholarship. Prepping Yourself for the Bee What follows are my tips and techniques to help you prepare for the National Geographic Bee (formerly called the National Geography Bee but since the National Geographic Society is the organizer, they decided to change the name). Start with a world map, globe, and atlas and become very familiar with the continents, countries, states and provinces, islands, and major physical features of our planet.Use Outline Maps of the world and continents to test yourself on this information. Knowing the relative location of countries, islands, major water bodies, and major physical features is very important for the Bee. Be sure to also have a good understanding of where the major lines of latitude and longitude lie.Take as many practice quizzes as possible. My site offers an archive of hundreds of multiple-choice Geography Quizzes that will definitely help. National Geographic offers a daily GeoBee Quiz online. There are additional online quizzes in my Test Your Knowledge collection of resources. Be sure to use an atlas to look up or understand the questions that youve missed.Prepare flash cards or use some other technique to memorize the capitals of the countries of the world and the capitals of the fifty United States. Memorize these Basic Earth Facts, the Highest, Lowest, and Deepest points around the world, and study other geographic superlatives. Read the newspaper, news magazines, and subscribe to my free Geography Newsletter and Geography 101 Email Course to learn about geography and to stay up-to-date with major news events happening around the world. Some Bee questions come from the geography of current events and these events are usually those that occur in the latter portion of the year before the Bee. Look up any unfamiliar place names you encounter in an atlas.Knowing principal languages, currencies, religions, and former country names is definitely a bonus. Its most important at state and national levels. This information is best obtained from the CIA World Factbook.Become familiar with the terms and concepts of Physical Geography. If you can review the glossary and key concepts of physical geography from a college-level physical geography textbook, do so!​ In the 1999 state finals, there was a difficult round devoted to exotic species but each questions answer was the choice between two places so having a good geographical knowledge would have been the easiest way to win the round. My book, The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook: 1,001 Questions Answers to Help You Win Again and Again!, is a helpful resource for those preparing for the Bee at the school, state, or national levels. Good luck!

Contracts Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Contracts Law - Essay Example If this happens, it implies that the contact is executed. However, this is not usually the case. Many are times when one of the parties to contract does not fully commit themselves to the ultimate execution of the contract, prompting the other party to do away with it. In essence, such a contract becomes voidable. Moreover, the failure by one of the parties to the execution of a contact breaches it. In this regards, any contract, whose terms have been infringed by either of the parties, is eligible for legal settlement. Thus, courts are mandated to settle contract disputes. In so doing, the court may impose various remedies. Such remedies include but are not inclined to: cancelling the contact, specific performance, punishments as well as damages of various forms. There exist a profusion of cases where courts have settled contact disputes. To begin with, a celebrity artiste named Bruno Mars (whose real name is Peter Hernandez) sought a court intervention in a contract dispute with his publishing company. In this case, the publishing company had declined to let go of Mars on the grounds that he had not yet fully executed the terms of their contract. The next case involves Garland Coal who entered into a contract with Peevyhouse, allowing them to mine coal on Peevyhouse’s land with the agreement that they would restore it on the completion of the mining activities. On the contrary, Garland Coal left the land without rejuvenating it as agreed. This prompted Peevyhouse to sue Garland seeking damages of $25,000. Instead, the jury granted $5,000 to Peevyhouse instigating Garland to appeal in turn. From the holding and the ultimate ruling if the case, it is apparent that, as much courts are obliged to solve disputes arising from failure to fully execute a contract, they are bound to enforce the contract exclusively as it is. That is to say, the law has no intention to ameliorate a contract in any way. The enforcement of the

Healthy Diets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Healthy Diets - Essay Example The human body is a complex, living, biological organism that is sustained by nutrients for its continued survival. Without these nutrients, the body breaks down from weakness and disease and eventually dies. Like any living organism, the human body has to be cared for by providing it with the means to maintain the energy it needs to keep its biological functions working. Everything that the human body can do - seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, thinking, moving, reproducing, and so on - would depend on how well its smallest unit called the cell is nourished and maintained. Since the human body consists of some 60 trillion cells (Dunne, 2002, p. 135) that are grouped together into organs, each with its own function and purpose, the whole body will be healthy and able to live for a long period of time if the cells in the body are kept in good working condition. This is what nutrition is supposed to do, to keep each cell healthy and functioning properly. Nutrition provides the body with nutrients that are chemical substances necessary to keep the cell, and therefore the body, alive. There are six types of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats (or lipids), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Each nutrient participates in at least one of the following functions: providing energy to the body, building and repairing body tissue, and regulating bodily proce sses. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats supply energy. Proteins also build and repair body tissues with the help of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins, minerals, and water help regulate the different body processes such as circulation, respiration, digestion, and elimination of waste. Each nutrient is important and none works alone. Nutrients come from the food we eat, which the body must process before they can be used. What is known as nutrition is the whole series of processes where the body takes in and uses food for growth, development, and maintaining good bodily health. These processes - digestion, absorption, and metabolism - are very important and also need nutrients in order to be carried out properly. Nutrition therefore includes the whole range of activities that starts with the food we eat (our diet), the nutrients contained in the food, and the process of digestion, absorption, and metabolism that break down the nutrients in our diet into chemicals that are sent to all the different cells in the human body. If we want the body to stay healthy, the whole nutrition process must be healthy. This begins with having a healthy diet or food intake. What is a healthy diet This is what doctors, scientists, and health experts have been doing research all these years to determine. Several research studies show that what for us would be a healthy diet depends on many factors, such as our bodily state, age, level of activity, our lifestyles, the antibodies we have developed in our immune systems, and even the way we were nourished when we were still in our mother's womb and our cultural background (different people prefer potatoes, pasta, bread, rice, or noodles with their meat). There are countless definitions of what a healthy diet is. What may be healthy for bush men in the forests of Africa and Papua New Guinea (fresh worms, raw tuber roots, and boiled fish) may not be healthy for a young student living in Europe, and vice

Lufthansa Austrian Airlines Takeover Essay Example for Free

Lufthansa Austrian Airlines Takeover Essay Taking a brief look on the economic development in Europe up to the year 2008 reveals high GDP growth rates and reminds us about the times of prosperity that we almost all so nostalgically recall. But Austrian Airlines have never seen any boom in revenues, profits and the number of transported passengers. This alone is a reason for big concern as airlines have never been a counter-cyclical business. If the company is unable to sustain itself in the times of prosperity what loss will they carry in the books in the times of economic downswing? Finding a powerful strategic partner seems like inevitable for the Austrian company. In 2008 Austrian Airlines was the 11th biggest airlines in Europe with 10,7 million passengers and 2,5â‚ ¬ billion in revenues. On the other side Lufthansa has 7 times more passengers and makes 10 times more money in revenues. Putting these two categories into relation shows how company? s size creates numerous benefits, particularly financial ones. In 2008 Austrian Airlines had revenue of 233â‚ ¬ per passenger while Lufthansa attained 357â‚ ¬ per passenger. Now it is obvious how size matters and that synergies create great cost-cutting potential and increase profitability. If Lufthansa manages to bring Austrian Airlines to its own level of profitability they would have EBIT of 140â‚ ¬ million if the expenses and passenger number stay on 2008 levels. Not to mention the strategic benefits of this acquisition, and probable Lufthansa? s ability to make use of synergy effects i. e. to cut costs and sell even more flight tickets thanks to wide-spread sales offices all over the world. Acquiring Austrian Airlines proves as lucrative for a Lufthansa if they transform the company and as a good deal for current shareholders who can count on even more losses if Austrian Airlines decide to pursue stand-alone strategy which means that they will eventually lose all the capital they put up . This simple analysis show why did consolidation wave in airlines industry pick up on speed. It really seems that main task for carriers is to get big as fast as they can or to face with a demise of their business. Immediate recapitalization of Austrian Airlines in the amount of 500â‚ ¬ million just supports above statement as even the biggest European airline would be unable to cover such a huge accumulated loss if it weren? t for the help of the Austrian government and the European Union. Lufthansa plans to take advantage of the Austrian Airlines? geographic location and their know-how and expertise in CEE and Middle East. After the fall of communism in Europe Austria has played a crucial role as a gateway to Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Austrian Airlines took its business one step further and established new core market in the Middle East. For an international company like Lufthansa Austrian Airlines represents a cornerstone in the expansion towards Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Austrian Airlines is a first mover in CEE and Middle East and a market leader with 61 destinations in the region whose expertise in the Eastern markets will be of a great use ones Lufthansa decides to go East more aggressively as Austrian Airlines will share their core competence with the group. Cutting overlapping flights and optimization of its joint offer and sales activities will improve Austrian Airlines business activity right away. Further developing of Austrian? s successful hub system at Vienna airport will also bring positive effects in the long run. Since Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines are old partners within the framework of the Star Alliance and they know each other very well integration in the Lufthansa Group should play out without major obstacles. Companies cooperated within the context of a bilateral joint venture for Austrian-German flight traffic as well as in the important foreign markets of Switzerland and Brussels. Even their technical services have been cooperating closely and that is also one of the reasons why Austrian executives have trust in Lufthansa and why did they choose exactly Lufthansa among 12 initial bidders. Companies expect to be able to exploit extensive synergies and assess these to amount to 40â‚ ¬ million in cost savings and additional revenues. Apart from all this, Lufthansa has assured Austrian Airlines that they will be granted extensive autonomy within the group and that they will preserve their Austrian identity which stands for quality and Austrian hospitality. Vienna will remain the hub of all flight operations, so that Austria will continue to feature very good international flight connections. Its central position in the heart of Europe made it easier for Lufthansa to grant them autonomy. No major downsizing of the fleet is planned which would be unthinkable if they wanted to pursue stand-alone strategy. On an organizational level, Austrian Airlines will operate as a profit center within the Lufthansa Group what represents a great incentive to get out of the red once and for all. As a part of Lufthansa Group Austrian Airlines will easier protect its position on the market if the recession hits the economy in 2009 because smaller carriers which are not supported by a strong corporate parent will struggle with insufficient resources and declining passenger numbers. As it will soon become apparent, Austrian Airlines shareholders, especially Republic of Austria, will sign a great deal if transaction proceeds. Keeping independence among the group, operating under its distinguishing identity while improving quality and profitability of its services sounds almost incredible for the company which could declare bankruptcy if it weren? t for its strategic partner. Considering current situation both sides could profit from the transaction. Moreover, the integration in the Lufthansa Group will provide Austrian Airlines with access to new passenger flows and enable them to more effectively build up international brand awareness and be Austrian ambassador all over the world which will strengthen their business model. Lufthansa? s worldwide presence, their size, lobbying power and relationship with gasoline sellers will be of great help to Austrian Airlines. In the light of the bleak economic prospect for 2009 Austrian Airlines can focus on their core business knowing that Lufthansa watches their back. This strategy could work well as Austrian Airlines received numerous awards in 2008 including the so-called â€Å"Oscars† of the industry and a first place ranking as the best airline in Europe according to a survey carried out by â€Å"Capital† magazine. Austrian Airlines have a reliability rate of over 99. % and is among top five most punctual carriers in Europe and could improve Lufthansa? s business model too by sharing their expertise. A fully restructured Austrian Airlines will be forced to become a thriving member of the Lufthansa Group once the company is aware that the Republic of Austria will not back them up if anything goes down the drain. Concerning a history of mutual cooperation between Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines executives in charge need to be particularly careful to avoid accusations of conflicting self-interest as these may arise due to close ties between two companies. Since there were 11 other bidders at the start and Lufthansa was chosen in the end both parties need to be adequately informed about all facts relevant to this transaction so that they can clearly explain why is this transaction undisputedly the best possible solution for both sides. Considering that Lufthansa is taking over a company which made huge losses in the past years and whose balance sheet reveals equity ratio of just 11% (which is appalling even for a bank) strategic rationale needs to be explained clearly and concisely together with all future advantages because otherwise someone could think acquisition is completely irrational. Even after the restructuring aid Austrian Airlines will remain highly indebted and Lufthansa? s executives have to justify their reasoning by outlining benefits. Transaction Overview After signing initial agreements (CA;LOI) which provide a foundation for any further steps, Framework Agreement is often cited in the underlying Voluntary Public Offer. Basic arrangements between parties should be outlined in the letter of intent and then once more stipulated in the Framework Agreement. The underlying Voluntary Public Takeover offer stipulates conditions precedent which are to be fulfilled before closing. From that reason they all represent potential deal-breakers since there is a possibility that some of them will not be fulfilled. According to Framework Agreement an extraordinary shareholders meeting will be called just before the closing of the Share Purchase Agreement so that recapitalization can be authorized, new supervisory board appointed and articles of association amended. In order to mitigate any negative impact of information leakage on the transaction Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines had signed a confidentiality agreement. Both parties are obliged to use confidential information just for the purposes of the ongoing transaction and will not disclose any information to the third parties in order not to bring any company in an unfavorable position. Letter of intent is a second important document signed which outlines Lufthansa? intentions and give an overview of the basic transaction, purchase price, determines break-up fee and division of costs incurred as well as court under which jurisdiction any disputes will be solved. For Lufthansa it is of extreme importance to include an exclusive dealing clause so that Austrian Airlines obliges to negotiate just with Lufthansa and no one else at the time. Since Lufthansa plans to take over a company in an extremely bad shape it would be inappropriate of Austrian Airlines not to bring in all their energy and foc us to close the deal. Letter of intention needs to include details about a stake purchase and subsequent mandatory public offer. The details of the purchase price (maximum 4,49â‚ ¬ per share) should also be included i. e. the price paid for the 41,56 % of shares held by Osterreichische Industrieholding AG which includes the details on the earn-out option (under which conditions will Lufthansa pay an amount of up to 162â‚ ¬ million depending on Austrian Airlines? future economic performance and on the outperformance of the Lufthansa? s share price). It should also stipulate the conditions of the offer given to a minor shareholders so that Lufthansa holds at least 75% of the permanent voting shares (without consideration of the treasury shares) in Austrian Airlines after the end of the initial acceptance period. Lufhansa? s intention to fully take over Austrian Airlines should be clearly pointed out particularly their wish to acquire 90% of all shares so that they can launch a squeeze-out. The important conditions precedent should be included in the Letter of Intent. Approval by the competent antitrust authorities in the European Union and other countries should be right away designated as â€Å"conditio sine qua non†. Approval of the restructuring aid is also deemed as extremely important and it should be stipulated in the Letter of Intent as 500â‚ ¬ million granted by the state of Austria and the European Union are absolutely necessary to compensate for the negative shareholder value of Austrian Airlines and make Lufthansa willing to take them over. Recapitalization will also further dilute the free float shareholders making it easier for Lufthansa to launch a squeeze-out procedure. Letter of intent should also arrange who bears the break-up cost in the case of a regulatory disapproval. This is seen as one of the major risk since Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines partly operate the same lines and consolidation would lead to a further concentration of power. Considering negative financial results of the Austrian Airlines letter of intent should already include frame of the future executive structure while definitive agreement should include exact top-management structure in the Austrian Airlines which will facilitate integration in the Lufthansa group and turn around the profitability. Since Shareholders Agreement of Austrian Airlines syndicate had already dealt with issue it might be a bit cumbersome renegotiating it. Letter of intent should also state that Lufthansa has no intention whatsoever to dismantle Austrian Airlines i. e. that brand, headquarters and route network favoring Austrian national interests will be kept. Lufthansa should try to avoid the matter of employment until the very end (final agreement) so that they are not bound by pre-signed clauses once they negotiate the final contract because restructuring of the Austrian Airlines is necessary by all means. Considering that Lufthansa is the biggest European airline company it the approval of antitrust authorities will not come smoothly. Second condition precedent, approval of 500â‚ ¬ million is not deemed as problematic as this pay-out coincides with Austrian national interests to preserve a national carrier which serves its interest. (Besides it wouldn? t make almost any sense for the European Union to grant the acquisition but rejects the aid. ) Acquiring Austrian Airlines will only increase Lufthansa? s size and market power. Holding such a dominant position could incite abusing it e. g. by charging unfair prices or refusing to innovate. This horizontal agreement will put competition in an unfavorable position but on the other hand Lufthansa can argue that consolidation in the European airline industry is inevitable. However, only consolidation will ensure survival of the European airlines in the long run, fragmented market structure leaves them susceptible to either bankruptcy or takeover by Asian od American airlines who are fortunately by law not allowed to be major shareholders. Since regulation is the real obstacle to consolidation alliances in Europe prevail. Unfavorable circumstance is also the fact that at the time of this pending transaction Lufthansa bought a big chunk of Brussels Air. The regulators will certainly not like that. Like in any deal representations and warranties play an important role as they typically make up the largest part of the share purchase agreement. They have an informational, protective and supportive role in the transaction . Austrian Airline? epresentations and warranties, coupled with the Lufthansa’s due diligence, enable Lufthansa to learn as much as possible about the business prior to signing the definitive acquisition agreement. Second, they are protective. This is crucial for Lufthansa who acquires highly indebted company which value without restructuring aid is negative. The seller’s representations and warranties provide mechanism for the Lufthansa to step back or possibly to renegotiate the terms of ac quisition. The second major feature of merger the agreement is the inclusion of various pre-closing covenants, or promises to do something or not do something during the period between the signing of the acquisition agreement and the closing. Generally, covenants should be absolute and Lufthansa? s goal is that none material changes take place until the closing and that business condition does not aggravate in any respect because if such events took place it would mean that they overpaid. The reasoning behind the indemnification is the same. One should emphasize the importance of reps and warranties relating to financial statements (compliance with accounting standards) , taxes and employees (manager contracts, severance terms and compensations) and no pending litigations which breech would surely threaten the envisaged transaction. The role of all above named provisions is risk minimization and these provision should also act as an incentive for a fair dealing.

Streptococci :: essays research papers

Streptococci In a healthy human, the internal tissues such as blood, brain, and muscle are generally free of microorganisms. On the other hand, the surface tissues, such as skin, all of the mucous membrane in the mouth, nasal cavity and intestinal tract can easily and readily become available for microorganism to colonize and grow. Depending on the location in the human body, different bacteria choose to grow on a specific location that provides the nutrition it needs, with optimum condition such as pH. There are many different bacteria that collectively are called normal flora, and live in the human body. Many of these bacteria are commensally living in humans, and some others are symbiotic. Commensal bacteria only obtain their food from the human, and do not harm or benefit the host, on the other hand symbiots not only get their food from the host, but in return they also become beneficial to the host in providing nutrition that human can not make, such as vitamin K. One of the most recognized and extensively studied bacteria that often get more attention during the winter is Streptococcus. There are different strains of strep. Depending on their ability of hemolysis of blood agar, strep can be subdivided into a, b and g hemolytic (1-pp143). There are many different laboratory tests that can be done to distinguish one strep from the other. Different treatments also have been developed to fight each strain of strep. The streptococci are a group of bacteria that infect human as well as animals. A very basic test to recognize strep is to perform blood agar plate (BAP) test. Hemolysis of the blood agar can indicate the presence of strep bacteria. Most strep bacteria are either a or b hemolytic on sheep blood agar. a-hemolytic strep partially lyses the red blood cells, creating a greenish zone around each colony, whereas, complete lyses of blood by b-hemolytic strep create a clear zone. g-hemolytic does not lyse red blood cells, and no change or zone is created (1-pp143). Streptococci are gram positive and exhibit purple color cocci when gram stained and observed under the microscope. Gram-positive bacteria such as streptococci have a membrane that contains a thick layer of peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan can retain the violet blue, and does not wash off with alcohol. It grows in short chains, containing several streptococci. It looks a lot like a string of beads.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 9

It's difficult for me to describe the moments that followed. I remember footfalls and shrieking and the servants praying outside their quarters. I remember staying on my knees, yelling out of horror and pity and fear. I remember Mr. Cartwright pulling me back as Mrs. Cartwright sank to her knees and keened loudly, like a wounded animal. I remember seeing the police carriage. I remember Father and Damon wringing their hands and whispering about me, allies in trying to develop the best course for my care. I tried to talk, to tell them I was fine–I was, after all, alive. But I couldn't form the words. At one point, Dr. Janes hooked his arms under my armpits and dragged me to my feet. Slowly, men I didn't know surrounded me and dragged me to the porch of the servants' quarters. There, words were mumbled, and Cordelia was called for. â€Å"I'm †¦ I'm fine,† I said finally, embarrassed that so much attention was being paid to me when Rosalyn was the one who'd been killed. â€Å"Shhh, now, Stefan,† Cordelia said, her leathery face creased with worry. She pressed her hands to my chest and muttered a prayer under her breath, then pulled a tiny vial from the voluminous folds of her skirt. She uncapped it and pressed it to my lips. â€Å"Drink,† she urged as a liquid that tasted like licorice ran down my throat. â€Å"Katherine!† I whimpered. Then I clapped my hand over my own mouth, but not before a startled expression crossed Cordelia's face. Quickly, she dosed me with more of the licorice-scented liquid. I dropped back to the hard steps of the porch, too tired to think anymore. â€Å"His brother is here somewhere,† Cordelia said, sounding as if she were speaking underwater. â€Å"Fetch him.† I heard the sound of footfalls and opened my eyes an instant later to see Damon standing above me. His face was white with shock. â€Å"Will he be okay?† Damon asked, turning to Cordelia. â€Å"I think †¦,† Dr. Janes began. â€Å"He needs rest. Quiet. A dark room,† Cordelia said authoritatively. Damon nodded. â€Å"I'm †¦ Rosalyn †¦ I should have †¦,† I began, even though I didn't know how to finish the sentence. Should have what? Should have gone looking for her far earlier, instead of spending my time kissing Katherine? Should have insisted on escorting her to the party? â€Å"Shhh,† Damon whispered, hoisting me up. I managed to stand, shakily, beside him. From out of nowhere, Father appeared and held my other arm, and I haltingly managed to step off the porch and back to the house. Revelers stood on the grass, holding each other, and Sheriff Forbes called out for the militia to search in the woods. I felt Damon guiding me through the back door of the house and up the stairs before allowing me to collapse on my bed. I fell into the cotton sheets, and then I remember nothing but darkness. The next morning, I awoke to beams of sunlight scattered on the cherrywood floorboards of my bedroom. â€Å"Good morning, brother.† Damon was sitting in the corner in the rocking chair, the one that used to belong to Great-grandfather. Our mother had rocked us in it when we were infants, singing songs to us as we went to sleep. Damon's eyes were red and bloodshot, and I wondered if he'd been sitting like that, watching me, all night. â€Å"Rosalyn's dead?† I voiced it as a question, even though the answer was obvious. â€Å"Yes.† Damon stood up, turning to the crystal pitcher on the walnut dresser. He poured water into a tumbler and held it toward me. I struggled to sit upright. â€Å"No, stay,† Damon commanded with the authority of an army officer. I'd never heard him speak like that before. I fell back against the goose-down pillows and allowed Damon to bring the glass to my lips as if I were an infant. The cool, clear liquid slipped down my throat, and once again, I thought back to last night. â€Å"Did she suffer?† I asked, a painful series of images marching through my brain. While I'd been reciting Shakespeare, Rosalyn must have been planning her grand entrance. She must have been so excited to show off her dress, to have the younger girls gape at her ring, to have the older women take her off to a corner to discuss the particulars of her wedding night. I imagined her dashing across the lawn, then hearing footsteps behind her, only to turn and see flashing white teeth glistening in the moonlight. I shuddered. Damon crossed over to the bed and put his hand on my shoulder. Suddenly the rush of terrifying images stopped. â€Å"Death usually happens in less than a second. That was the case in the war, and I'm sure it was the same for your Rosalyn.† He settled back in his chair and rubbed his temple. â€Å"They think it was a coyote. The war is bringing people east for battle, and they think the animals are following the blood trail.† â€Å"Coyotes,† I said, my voice tripping on the second syllable. I hadn't heard the word before. It was just one more example of new phrases like killed and a widower that were about to be added to my vocabulary. â€Å"Of course, there are those people, including Father, who think it was the work of demons.† Damon rolled his dark eyes. â€Å"Just what our town Damon rolled his dark eyes. â€Å"Just what our town needs. An epidemic of mass hysteria. And what kills me about that little rumor is that when people are convinced their town is under siege by some demonic force, they're not focusing on the fact that war is ripping apart our country. It's this head-in- the-sand mentality that I simply cannot understand. â€Å" I nodded, not really listening, not able to view Rosalyn's death as part of some sort of argument against the war. As Damon continued to ramble, I lay back and closed my eyes. I visualized Rosalyn's face at the moment I found her. There, in the darkness, she'd looked different. Her eyes had been large and luminescent. As though she'd seen something terrible. As though she'd suffered horribly.

Statue of Liberty essays

Statue of Liberty essays For over a century, the Statue of Liberty has stood valiantly in the open air, symbolizing freedom throughout the world. She has held a patriotic place in each and every American heart since she was unveiled in October 1886. She has greeted all the immigrants into Ellis Island, announcing that their journey to the "land of the free" has finally come to an end. Her flaming torch, flowing robes, and spiked crown have long since been an inspiration for American Pride, and the supreme power and grace of her posture have given the United States a symbolic mascot that will forever display the power, wealth, and freedom of this great nation. The Statue of Liberty, officially Liberty Enlightening the World, was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and completed in July 1884. The Statue of Liberty was given by the French as a symbol of friendship. The Statue of Liberty is a monumental sculpture, portraying a woman escaping the chains of tyranny, which lie at her feet. Held aloft in her right hand is a flaming torch, representing liberty. Her left hand grasps a tablet on which is inscribed in roman numerals, the date the United States declared its independence, "July 4, 1776." She wears flowing robes, and the seven rays of her spiked crown symbolize the seven seas and continents. The statue commemorates the alliance between the United States and France during the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783, and was funded completely through the donation of the French people. The Statue of Liberty was declared a national monument in 1924. In order to prepare for the statue's centennial year in 1986, a French-American rehabilitation project repaired and cleaned the statue, replacing the glass-and metal torch with one covered in gold leaf. The complete Statue of Liberty national monument also includes both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. ...

Biography of Yuri Gagarin, First Man in Space

Biography of Yuri Gagarin, First Man in Space Yuri Gagarin (March 9, 1934–March 27, 1968) made history on April 12, 1961, when he became both the first person in the world to enter space and the first person to orbit the Earth. Although he never again went to space, his achievement was one of the most significant events of the space race which eventually saw men land on the moon. Fast Facts: Yuri Gagarin Known For: First human being in space and first in Earth orbitBorn: March 9, 1934 in Klushino, USSRParents: Alexey Ivanovich Gagarin, Anna Timofeyevna GagarinaDied: March 27, 1968 in Kirsach, USSREducation: Orenburg Aviation School, where he learned to fly Soviet MiGsAwards and Honors: Order of Lenin, Hero of the Soviet Union, Pilot Cosmonaut of the Soviet Union; monuments were raised and streets named for him across the Soviet UnionSpouse: Valentina GagarinaChildren: Yelena (born 1959), Galina (born 1961)Notable Quote: To be the first to enter the cosmos, to engage single-handed in an unprecedented duel with nature- could anyone dream of anything greater than that? Early Life born in Klushino, a small village west of Moscow in Russia (then known as the Soviet Union). Yuri was the third of four children and spent his childhood on a collective farm where his father, Alexey Ivanovich Gagarin, worked as a carpenter and bricklayer and his mother, Anna Timofeyevna Gagarina, worked as a milkmaid. In 1941, Yuri Gagarin was just 7 years old when the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. Life was difficult during the war and the Gagarins were kicked out of their home. The Nazis also sent Yuris two sisters to Germany to work as forced laborers. Gagarin Learns to Fly In school, Yuri Gagarin loved both mathematics and physics. He continued on to a trade school, where he learned to be a metalworker and then went on to an industrial school. It was at the industrial school in Saratov that he joined a flying club. Gagarin learned quickly and was obviously at ease in a plane. He made his first solo flight in 1955. Since Gagarin had discovered a love of flying, he joined the Soviet Air Force. Gagarins skills led him to the Orenburg Aviation School, where he learned to fly MiGs. On the same day he graduated from Orenburg with top honors in November 1957, Yuri Gagarin married his sweetheart, Valentina (Valy) Ivanovna Goryacheva. The couple eventually had two daughters together. After graduating, Gagarin was sent on some missions. However, while Gagarin enjoyed being a fighter pilot, what he really wanted to do was to go to space. Since he had been following the Soviet Unions progress in space flight, he was confident that soon his country would send a man into space. He wanted to be that man, so he volunteered to be a cosmonaut. Gagarin Applies to Be a Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was just one of 3,000 applicants to be the first Soviet cosmonaut. Out of this large pool of applicants, 20 were chosen in 1960 to be the Soviet Unions first cosmonauts; Gagarin was one of the 20. During the extensive physical and psychological testing required of the chosen cosmonaut trainees, Gagarin excelled at the tests while maintaining a calm demeanor as well as his sense of humor. Later, Gagarin would be chosen to be the first man into space because of these skills. (It also helped that he was short in stature since Vostok 1s capsule was small.) Cosmonaut trainee Gherman Titov was chosen to be the backup in case Gagarin was unable to make the first space flight. Launch of Vostok 1 On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin boarded Vostok 1 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Although he was fully trained for the mission, no one knew if it was going to be a success or a failure. Gagarin was to be the very first human being in space, truly going where no man had gone before. Minutes before the launch, Gagarin gave a speech, which included: You must realize that it is hard to express my feeling now that the test for which we have been training long and passionately is at hand. I dont have to tell you what I felt when it was suggested that I should make this flight, the first in history. Was it joy? No, it was something more than that. Pride? No, it was not just pride. I felt great happiness. To be the first to enter the cosmos, to engage single handed in an unprecedented duel with nature- could anyone dream of anything greater than that? But immediately after that I thought of the tremendous responsibility I bore: to be the first to do what generations of people had dreamed of; to be the first to pave the way into space for mankind. * Vostok 1, with Yuri Gagarin inside, launched on schedule at 9:07 a.m. Moscow Time. Just after lift-off, Gagarin reputedly called out, Poyekhali! (Off we go!) Gagarin was rocketed into space using an automated system. Gagarin did not control the spacecraft during his mission; however, in case of an emergency, he could have opened an envelope left on board for the override code. He was not given the controls because many scientists were worried about the psychological effects of being in space (i.e. they were worried he would go mad). After entering space, Gagarin completed a single orbit around Earth. The Vostok 1s top speed reached 28,260 kph (about 17,600 mph). At the end of the orbit, Vostok 1 reentered the Earths atmosphere. When Vostok 1 was still about 7 km (4.35 miles) from the ground, Gagarin ejected (as planned) from the spacecraft and used a parachute to land safely. From launch (at 9:07 a.m.) to Vostok 1 touching down on the ground (10:55 a.m.) was 108 minutes, a number often used to describe this mission. Gagarin landed safely with his parachute about 10 minutes after Vostok 1 came down. The calculation of 108 minutes is used because the fact that Gagarin ejected from the spacecraft and parachuted to the ground was kept secret for many years. (The Soviets did this to get around a technicality about how flights were officially recognized at the time.) Right before Gagarin landed (near the village of Uzmoriye, near the Volga River), a local farmer and her daughter spotted Gagarin floating down with his parachute. Once on the ground, Gagarin, dressed in an orange spacesuit and wearing a large white helmet, terrified the two women. It took Gagarin a few minutes to convince them that he too was Russian and to direct him to the nearest phone. Death After his successful first flight into space, Gagarin never again was sent into space. Instead, he helped train future cosmonauts. On March 27, 1968, Gagarin was test-piloting a MiG-15 fighter jet when the plane plummeted to the ground, killing Gagarin instantly at the age of 34. For decades, people speculated about how Gagarin, an experienced pilot, could safely fly to space and back but die during a routine flight. Some thought he was drunk. Others believed that Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev wanted Gagarin dead because he was jealous of the cosmonauts fame. However, in June 2013, fellow cosmonaut, Alexey Leonov (the first man to  conduct a spacewalk), revealed that the accident was caused by a Sukhoi fighter jet that had been flying too low. Traveling at supersonic speed, the jet flew perilously close to Gagarins MiG, likely overturning the MiG with its backwash and sending Gagarins jet into a deep spiral. Legacy Nearly as soon as Gagarins feet touched the ground back on Earth, he became an international hero. His accomplishment was known around the globe. He had accomplished what no other human being had ever done before. Yuri Gagarins successful flight into space paved the way for all future space exploration. Sources Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Yuri Gagarin.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica.Biography.com, AE Networks Television. â€Å"Yuri Gagarin.†

Abstract Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Abstract - Article Example These differences were pointed out various experts and authors, which have been featured in articles. So, this paper focusing on two articles titled Mentoring and coaching: what’s the difference? Written by David Macafee and Bob Garvey and Coach, Mentor: Is there a difference? written by Matt M. Starcevich will first provide a summary of the article, followed by the discussion of the main issues in both the articles and its impact organizations, finally ending with a contrast and comparison with the text titled Employee Training and Development written by Raymond A. Noe. David Macafee and Bob Garvey start of their article by providing details about the origins of the word and practice of mentoring and coaching. Then, before focusing on the differences, they first start off by providing the similarities between coaching and mentoring. In the main body of the article, the authors discuss coaching and mentoring separately, but in that discussion, they point out how both of them differ in the purpose and in the process. That is, they opine that mentorship is a long-term beneficiary act, while coaching is a short-term performance-oriented act. In the subsequent paragraphs, the authors discuss the difference by focusing on the applications of coaching and mentoring, and how they are applied differently in differently. The authors mainly point out how coaching has become more commercialized than mentoring. The authors Macafee and Garvey end the article by stressing the importance of having good and effective coaches and mentors, and how they can bring out positive effects on the employee and thereby the organization as a whole. On the other, in the second article, its author Starcevich begins off his article by pointing about an on-line survey conducted â€Å"to define what protà ©gà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s felt were the attributes of effective mentoring relationships† (Starcevich, 2007). Then he jumps in the main

What shapes women's decisions to take part in prenatal testing and Essay

What shapes women's decisions to take part in prenatal testing and screening - Essay Example As pregnancy progresses the chances of changing the normal situation to abnormal one also increases. These complications could be primarily related to mother or developing foetus and both can affect the other partner. Continuous contact between a pregnant woman and a health are provider reduces the chances of turning the situation towards real emergency situation. This care provider – client relationship not only addresses the medical issues but it becomes an excellent opportunity to discuss other related and required issues, like: nutrition, rest, event around delivery, postpartum period, care of newborn and family planning. During pregnancy, there is an opportunity for pregnant woman to get herself tested or screened as advised by her care provider. Prenatal testing and screening is a preventive measure to exclude as many pathological situations as possible so that the outcome of a pregnancy is smooth in the shape of a normal newborn. During the prenatal period, pregnant women are advised some routine laboratory tests for all women. These laboratory tests require samples from blood, urine and cervix, as well as tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) (Medial Library, ACOG). The purpose of this routine activity is that if some abnormality is detected then it can be treated early before complications start because of this abnormality. Moreover, treating these abnormalities is not a big task but the effects of treating these abnormalities are significantly high. Urine is tested for the presence of sugar and proteins in the urine. High levels or sugar are of some concern otherwise sugar is excreted in urine during pregnancy but the presence of proteins suggests further work on excluding urinary tract infection (UTI), other kidney diseases or blood pressure. To look for any change in the cervix, a Pap smear is taken and assessed for any change leading to cervical cancer if it has not been taken during